Nothing is going to change about Texas gun laws. Here’s why: Republicans are winning
Nothing is going to change about Texas gun laws.
At least, not until voters change.
For now, about 50% of Texas voters are Republicans. They are not inclined to make any move toward the other 40% who are Democrats, not even when elected officials say small changes might be safer for Texas.
Three years ago, pistol-packing former state Rep. Matt Rinaldi of Irving criticized Gov. Greg Abbott just for even considering a red-flag law to protect domestic violence victims as part of an ill-fated 40-point plan to improve Texas gun safety and mental health laws.
Rinaldi is now the state chairman and leader of the Republican Party of Texas.
He also described hard-line faith-and-values conservative Lt,. Gov. Dan Patrick as “the biggest threat to Texas gun owners” — worse than El Paso Democrat Beto O’Rourke.
What did Patrick do?
He supported requiring gun buyers to pass a background check and claimed he would stand up to gun activists.
Surprise: He didn’t.
As you might expect, even after 21 deaths in Uvalde, neither state official is pushing for a replay now, particularly not with Republicans leading by about 7 points in polls going into the fall elections.
Days before the state party convention June 16-18 in Houston, the party’s position on any new gun restriction is plain:
Absolutely no way.
The current state party platform calls for Republicans to oppose “all legislation” that hampers legal gun owners age 18 and over from buying or carrying “any type of gun, ammunition, accessory, knife or other weapons.”
Any type at all.
Long guns.
Big guns.
Bazookas.
Swords.
Hatchets.
If you’re 18 with a clear adult record, it’s all OK.
That’s because many of the Republicans in the Texas Legislature claim the Good Lord blessed us with a “God-given” right to guns.
On his Twitter account, Rinaldi wrote March 27 that background checks would create a government registry of all guns.
“Are you comfortable with the same government knowing where every private gun is located that let rioters destroy cities, tried to fire half the country for declining a vaccine, & investigated parents as terrorists?” he asked.
Rinaldi also wrote that a special session to tighten gun access and school safety would be “a 30-day Democrat fundraiser full of grandstanding and crying.”
All we can do is cry.
This story was originally published June 3, 2022 at 8:53 AM.
